Controlling device.



A E. SWAIM.

CONTROLLING DEVICE.

1,234,413. Patented Jul- 24, 1917.

A. E. SWAHW,

CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. 1916.

Patented July 24, 1917.

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AEVEL E. SWAIIVI, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24., 1917.

Application filed April 15, 1916. Serial No. 91,380.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AnvEL E. SWAIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in controlling devices and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with steam boilers or the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide a regulator of this character having novel and improved means whereby the same is under control of the water level within the boiler.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved regulator including a yieldably supported container in propercommunication with a boiler whereby the water level within the boiler controls the direction of travel of the container, said container being operatively connected with a controlling valve for the water supply pipe for the boiler or other supply pipe, whereby the flow through said supply pipe is controlled.

The invention also has for an object to provide a novel and improved regulating device of this general character wherein a signal is caused to operate upon the container included in the regulating device assuming a predetermined position.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved controlling device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure lis a diagrammatic vlew 1n elevation illustrating a controlling device constructed in accordance with an embodiment 5 of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the vertically movable cylinder or container as herein included;

Fig. 3 is a view in top plan, detached, of the main arm herein employed;

Fig. 4 is a view in top plan, detached, of the arm adapted to be adjustably mounted upon the pipe depending from the container as herein included.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating certain details of my invention as herein disclosed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes a fragment of a boiler of any conventional construction and positioned exteriorly of said boiler is an upright 1, having its lower end provided with a suitable base 2 whereby the upright may be anchored in applied position. The upper end of the upright 1 is provided with a bearing 3 with which is pivotally engaged the inner end portion of the arm 4 of the yoke 5. The yoke 5 has its extremities pivotally engaged, as at 6, with the container C, thepivotal points 6 being at diametrically opposed points, and said container being preferably cylindrical in form with its heads 7 convex.

In communication with the container C at substantially the axial center of the upper head 7 is the pipe 8 which is in communication through the medium of the flexible pipe 9, with the steam dome S of the boiler B, while in communication with the container C at the axial center of the lower head 7 is the elongated tubular member or pipe 10 to which is connected a flexible pipe 11 leading to and in communication with the boiler B adjacent the bottom of the boiler B. The arm l has slidably engaged therewith the 'poise 12, whereby it will be perceived that the arm 4 together with the yoke 5 may be so balanced as to initially maintain the longitudinal center of the container or cylinder C substantially flush with the normal water line within the boiler B, said water line being indicated in the accompanying drawings by dotted lines, as at A.

The upright l is provided with the guide arm 14: underlying the container or cylinder C and terminating in an eye or annular member 15 through which the depending pipe 10 is loosely directed, and interposed between the outer extremity of the guide arm 14 and the lower head 7 of the cylinder or container C and between the outer end fso FEE

the equalizing springs 17 herein disclosed as coil springs and surrounding the depending pipe 10.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the inner end of the guide arm 14 is provided with the annular member or eye 18 through which the upright 1 is directed, and said guide arm 14 is maintained in proper position upon the upright 1 through the medium of the set screw 19 threaded through the annular member or eye 18 and coacting with the upright 1 in a manner which is believed to be self-evident. The sleeve 16 is also capable of adjustment longitudinally of the pipe 10 and is held in a fixed position upon said pipe 10 through the medium of the set screw 20 threaded through the sleeve and coacting in a conventional manner with the pipe 10.

V denotes a valve of any ordinary or preferred type interposed in the water feed pipe P discharging into the boiler 13, and the stem 21 of the valve V is provided with a rock arm 22 to which is adjustably engaged the lower extremity of the rod 23 which extends upwardly and is secured to an arm 24 carried by the sleeve 16 and is loosely disposed through an opening 25 produced in the guide arm 14 adjacent its outer end, As herein disclosed, the rod 28 is loosely directed'through the arm 24 of the sleeve 16, but is locked thereto in a conventional manner through the medium of a set screw 26.

It will be noted that the connections between the boiler B and the container or cylinder C will maintain the same water level in both, and as the water level lowers the cylinder or container 0 will rise, whereupon the valve V will be opened to permit a supply of water to be fed within the boiler B. As the water level rises the increased weight afforded by the water within the container or cylinder C will cause said container or cylinder to lower and close the valve V, whereby it will be perceived that a predetermined water level will be automatically maintained.

If for any reason the water level should become unusually low and a sufficient supply of water could not be supplied, I find it of advantage to employ an audible signal herein disclosed as a conventional steam whistle 27, in communication with the contamer or cylinder C through the upper head 1 thereof and having its operating arm 28 provided with a depending rod 29 which extends between the forks or arms of the yoke 5 and s loosely directed through an open-- mg 30 in the guide arm 14 adjacent the in-- ner end thereof, and at a predetermined point below the guide arm 14 said rod 29 isprovided wlth a stop or shoulder '31. By this arrangement it will be perceived that as the cylinder or container C rises the stop 31 will engage the guide arm 14 whereupon the continued rise of the container or cylinder C will result in the Whistle 27 being caused to sound. A

I have also found in practice that my 1 mproyed regulator may be employed w1th convenience and facility for controlling the delivery of liquid fuel when such type of burners are employed inconnection with a boiler, and as herein disclosed, P denotes a pipe leading from a suitable source of fuel supply to a conventional burner positioned beneath the boiler B and interposed in said flange 39, under which is adapted to ex tend a finger 40 carried by'the substantially vertically disposed arm 41 of the bell lever L. The horizontal arm 42 is provided adjacent its free end with an eye 43 through which the rod 23 is also loosely directed, and at a point below said horizontal arm 48 the Ifod 23 has adjustably engaged therewith through the medium of the set screw '44, the sleeve 45 whereby it will be perceived that as thecontainer or cylinder C rises, the sleeve 45 will contact with the horizontal arm 42 and cause the bell lever L to rock on its'pivot 46 and thus disengage the finger 40 from the annular flange 39, whereuponthe weight 34 will cause the valve V to close and thus cut oil the fuel from the burner.

It will be 7 selfevident that the finger'40 is manually 7 set or engaged with theannular flange 39 of the sleeve 38. r I

As is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, the pivotal connection 46 of the bell lever L is with the depending ears '47 depending from the guide arm 14.

In the event that oil or other fluid fuel is not employed, the valve V may be interposed in a pipe leading from a source of water supply and discharging upon the fire V bed under the boiler B, whereby the fire may be extinguished. As this is an obvious expedient, it is thought that an illustration thereof is unnecessary.

From the foregoing description, it 7 is thought to be obvious that a controlling device constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively. inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted foruse by reason of the convenience and facility with which it. may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible 0f"SOI118 change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

1. In combination with a boiler, and a valve, a container mounted for vertical movement and in communication with the boiler above and below the water line of the boiler, said communication including a pipe depending from the container, an arm through which the pipe is loosely directed, a rod loosely directed through the arm and operatively engaged with the valve, an arm fixed to the depending pipe and through Which the rod is directed, means for locking the rod and second named arm one to the other, and a balancing spring interposed between the arm carried by the pipe and the first named arm.

2. In combination with a boiler, a container supported for vertical movement, said container being in communication with the boiler above and below the water line of the boiler, said communication including a pipe depending from the container, an arm through which the pipe is loosely directed, a valve, a rod loosely disposed through the arm and operatively engaged with the valve, means for connecting the depending pipe and arm whereby the same are caused to move in unison and in the same general directions, balancing means coacting with the container, a second valve, a rod operatively engaged with said second valve and loosely disposed through the arm, said last named rod being also loosely disposed through the first named arm, a trigger pivotally supported by the arm and coacting with the last named rod for holding the same against movement in one direction, means carried by the first named rod and contacting with the trigger upon movement of said first named rod in one direction for releasing said trigger from the last named rod, and automatic means coacting with the last named valve for adjusting the same to a second position when the trigger is disengaged from the last named rod.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARVEL E. SWAIM. Witnesses C. M. JENKINS, BLANOHE JENKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. O." 

